ASCB DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 32, NUMBER 12 How to Ask for a Promotion Why the ASCB Half-Century Page 7 Society Needs Your Support As the ASCB nears the half-century anniversary of its founding, the Society How the ASCB needs your help. Won’t you help ensure that the next 50 years usher in continued growth and innovation for cell biology? You can join the ASCB Can Enhance Half-Century Society for 2009, by contributing to the Half-Century Fund Your Career at whatever level you choose. The ASCB is your international community, your source for the best Page 10 science, career development assistance, and advocacy for basic research. The ASCB is also the Society of your scientific heroes, of students, postdocs, and scientists at all career stages. You may have joined the Society because it shares your values, Cell Biology offering programs you won’t find elsewhere. Or perhaps you’re committed to the ASCB because of its longtime innovation. After all, the ASCB launched some of the earliest and Expands in most successful programs aimed at recruiting, retaining, and furthering the careers of women, Mexico minorities, and scientists at all career stages. The Society’s outreach to the public and media, Page 13 its book donations and workshops in Africa, childcare awards, and expanded image library now under development all underscore the Society’s innovation and focus on giving back. Won’t you help the Society continue to do so? To make a donation to the ASCB Half- Century Society, visit https://www.ascb.org/ascbsec/half-century-society.cfm. Inside For a complete list of 2009 donors, see page 4. n President’s Column 3 Half-Century Fund Donors 4 Coverage of the 49th ASCB Annual Meeting will be WICB Column 7 featured in the Jan./Feb. 2010 ASCB Newsletter. Dear Labby 10 Cell Biology in Mexico 13 InCytes from MBC 16 Did You Know...? Public Policy Briefing 19 n You have free access to ASCB’s quarterly online education journal, CBE—Life Sciences New Online Job Board 22 Education (CBE-LSE), which emphasizes teaching innovations and evidence for their NABT Meeting 23 effectiveness. n CBE-LSE is for educators at all levels and across all life science disciplines. CBE-LSE Table of Contents 24 n CBE-LSE publishes original research articles, essays, and features that help you apply education research to your own teaching. Members in the News 25 n No author or color charges. Member Gifts 25 n You can download a CBE-LSE poster containing five questions to stimulate classroom discussion. Or order free copies from the ASCB Online Store. Go to www.ascb.org and In Memoriam 25 click on “Online Store.” Grants & Opportunities 26 n The Winter 2009 issue of CBE-LSE is online now. Check it out at www.lifescied.org/ current.dtl. n Calendar 26 FEI Life Sciences The premier provider of 3D ultrastructural imaging solutions for the life sciences. The Tecnai Spirit TEM With the ease of a light microscope, The Tecnai™ Spirit TEM allows for the imaging of biological systems with the resolution needed to answer crucial biological questions. By automating 2D and 3D image acquisition, reconstruction, and visualization procedures, the Tecnai Spirit TEM ensures repeatable, high-quality results. Visit FEI.com/TecnaiSpirit for more information and a list of specific publications empowered by the Tecnai Spirit TEM. Free Life Sciences Webinars Learn about the latest tools for Life Science research and how FEI’s electron microscopy solutions are being used around the world. Current webinars: Bridging the Gap Between Light Microscopy and Electron Microscopy, High-throughput 3D Cellular Imaging, Cryo Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Introduction to Electron Microscopy in the Life Sciences. Visit FEI.com/Webinars for more information and to register. Negative stain preparation of rota virus. Nerve bioposy from a patient with a peripheral neuropathy. See Beyond at FEI.com/LifeSciences © 2009 FEI Company. Photo credit (left) sample courtesy of Cynthia Goldsmith, Center for Disease Control, Altanta, USA. Photo credit (right) sample courtesy of Dr. Wayne Moore and Ms. Susan Shinn, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. 09-305_ASCBNewsletter_Ad_FIN.indd 1 8/11/09 10:45 AM The American Society PRESIDENT’S Column for Cell Biology 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA Tel: (301) 347-9300 Farewell and Thanks Fax: (301) 347-9310 [email protected], www.ascb.org This is my last column as President of the meeting in San Diego, you will appreciate what ASCB, and I would like to use it to say “thank a huge undertaking this is. Much to my dismay Joan R. Goldberg you” to the many people who have made this I realize that the ASCB Newsletter does not list Executive Director year such a fulfilling one. It was with great all the ASCB staff or show photographs of them. Officers trepidation that I accepted So, here they are, pictured and the president’s gavel from identified on page 4. On behalf Brigid Hogan President Bob Goldman at the 2008 of all ASCB members I want to Timothy J. Mitchison President-Elect ASCB Annual Meeting in San say a big “thank you” for their Bob Goldman Past President Francisco. Then immediate work over the past year. Thoru Pederson Treasurer ASCB Past President Bruce Jean E. Schwarzbauer Secretary Alberts didn’t make me feel Champion Volunteers Council any more confident when he The other champions of the laughingly referred to the flood Society are the people who Pascale Cossart of emails I would now receive! volunteer time and effort to hold Susan K. Dutcher (It was a gross exaggeration!) crucial leadership positions, such Scott D. Emr The job has certainly been Joan R. Goldberg, ex officio as Treasurer Thoru Pederson and Holly V. Goodson much easier and more enjoyable Secretary Jean Schwarzbauer. Kathleen J. Green than I expected. The major Brigid Hogan Thoru has been a steadfast ally Paul W. Sternberg reason is because the ASCB is and advisor throughout the year. Elizabeth Sztul such a terrific organization and is helping such Many of us try to avoid dealing with budgets Clare M. Waterman a wide range of people achieve their goals in cell and the difficulties that arise when balancing Fiona M. Watt biology. That’s true, both in this country and Susan R. Wente resources against desires in our scientific and Susan M. Wick throughout the world. But the task has been personal lives. For us, Thoru is a hero indeed! Virginia A. Zakian greatly lightened by the support of the ASCB Other notable people who keep the Society staff, and, in particular our Executive Director strong and vital are those who volunteer to be The ASCB Newsletter is published 12 times per year Joan Goldberg. members of our committees. The chairs of these by The American Society committees, in particular, are passionate about for Cell Biology. Acknowledging a Dedicated Group their work and use their positions and the energy Joan and her team work tirelessly on behalf of the of their teams to advance far-reaching goals. Joan R. Goldberg Editor W. Mark Leader Editor Society from our headquarters in Bethesda, MD, I very much hope that more young people Elizabeth M. Rich Production Manager not far from the National Institutes of Health will see the Society as a way of contributing Kevin Wilson Public Policy Director campus. The Society is extremely fortunate to to the scientific and educational community, Ed Newman Advertising Manager have such a dedicated group of people. The list reaching out to the public and spreading John Fleischman Science Writer of tasks that the Staff are responsible for is really inspiration and knowledge to scientists and Thea Clarke Editorial Manager quite impressive. They research issues, make teachers throughout the world. In fact, when recommendations, prepare materials, plan and ASCB advertises openings on committees (by Deadlines for submission of articles and advertising schedule Council and committee meetings, and email and in the Newsletter), I hope members at materials: ensure that everyone stays on track about public all career stages will volunteer. While there may and science policy, Society financials, and all of not be enough openings for all who volunteer, Issue Deadline our programs. In addition, the staff represents the committee membership isn’t the only venue Jan./Feb. 2010 January 1 Society to other groups and agencies, supports for involvement. I hope members will consider March February 1 the membership, keeps the finances in order, assisting committees as affiliates and taking part April March 1 publishes the Newsletter, Molecular Biology of in networking activities, formal or informal. The ASCB Newsletter the Cell (MBC), and CBE—Life Sciences (CBE- ASCB website has a link for networking groups ISSN 1060-8982 ), and, in fact, writes most of this , that can be joined through Facebook. Other ways Volume 32, Number 12 LSE Newsletter December 2009 member broadcast emails, minutes of meetings, of becoming involved include presenting a poster and drafts of statements, reports, and press at next year’s ASCB Annual Meeting, mentoring © 2009 releases. Last, but by no means least, they play a others, and sharing thoughts by writing The American Society for Cell Biology crucial role in organizing our Annual Meeting, [email protected]. Remember, this is YOUR Postmaster: Send change of address to: ASCB Newsletter handling abstracts and meeting logistics. For those Society, and it provides many opportunities to The American Society for Cell Biology of you fortunate enough to have just attended the help you develop your career and succeed! 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA DECEMBER 2009 ASCB NEWSLETTER 3 Pointing to Accomplishments appropriate resources we can now develop a rich The year has seen many achievements for cell and lasting resource that will help inform and ASCB Staff biology and for our Society.